This blog has nothing to do with gorillas (though I love 'em)...fellow bloggers have inspired me to share vintage images of Disneyland from my personal collection. But don't be surprised if you see something from a World's Fair, Knott's Berry Farm, or someplace else that is cool!

Friday, October 09, 2015

Here are two more scans of some photo prints, circa 1982, as construction continues in preparation for the "New Fantasyland", which debuted on May 25th, 1983.

This first one isn't too terribly different from one that we saw in the previous post; only this time we are closer to the building that will house "Pinocchio's Daring Journey".

It is very apparent that those buildings next to the castle are just big industrial sheds - "Peter Pan's Flight" is just an empty barn. I think that the hexagonal structure is a planter for a tree, but I could be wrong. It is odd to see the "stone" walls stripped down to reveal the wooden 2 X 4s beneath.

8 comments:

I was thinking those hexagonal structures that are part of the newly formed foundation are the turn-around points for the new extended queue covered by the new façade structure of the Peter Pan Flight attraction. I could be wrong as well, but that's what I think it is.

Yes, that hexagonal area is part of the extended queue for Peter Pan. And the round spot in the dirt out in front of the Pinocchio ride is for the turret that stands next to the attraction's exit. That is the same turret that had fiberglass "hair" wrapped all around it for the Rapunzel/Tangled meet 'n greet.

TokyoMagic!, Thanks for confirming the queue area. You can tell by the extended footprints of the "New Fantasyland" dark ride upgrades that the King Arthur Carrousel was squeezed out of it's already congested original location and pushed further back into the open.

K. Martinez, thanks for the correction. I am going to look for photos online, since I don’t quite get how those hexagons help with turn-arounds, but I believe you!

TokyoMagic!, that makes two of you. It’s a turn-around point conspiracy! I suppose you believe that we landed on the moon too! I never saw the Rapunzel/Tangled thing, though I heard about it.

Chuck, I figured you were more of a jazzercise guy. And that is actually “Mt. Phooey”.

Tom Simpson, thanks!

MRaymond, it really is true, when you are walking around on the ground, there is little clue that those buildings are basically huge rectangular sheds.

K. Martinez, they should have just shrunk the Carrousel by 1/3. Problem solved. Disney, I am available for consultations.

Dean Finder, I agree, I would have expected a lot more steel; maybe there is some hidden beneath all that wood? I’ve been told that traditional wood framing is much more earthquake friendly, so maybe that had something to do with it.